NASA Wants To Test 3-D Printing Aboard ISS 115
coondoggie writes "NASA wants to test out 3-D printing technology onboard the International Space Station to find out if the technology could be used to manufacture parts in space." NASA may not be creating any production parts this way for a long time yet, but they've got to start somewhere.
most cheap printers don't care about gravity (Score:4, Interesting)
The common, cheap, FDM printers (the ones that squirt out hot plastic from a nozzle) can print just fine upside down. So obviously they will print fine with zero gravity.
Re:Debbie Downers (Score:2, Interesting)
Given the risk/reward for the space program, I'd say yes. If it is feasible in zero G to print parts, it would be much easier to ship up the raw materials and then make them there rather than have to ship it from Earth.
If something critical to just one experiment breaks, the cost in lost time waiting until the next trip from Earth rather than building the part immediately to fix it is more than worth it.
Re:Wrong naming (Score:3, Interesting)
Solution: NASA Brand Replication Unit v0.001
The Public will just call it a replicator anyway and the trademark will get watered down like Kleenex when it enters common usage once the technology matures.